To Reconcile All of Creation

Well, it has been a while since I last blogged, and that is
because we have been traveling for most of the month of February.  Though I plan on writing a few blogs in the
next couple of days to catch you up on the events of the past month, I wanted
to share with you something that encouraged me greatly today during our
ministry time…

“For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
and through him to reconcile to himself
all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his
cross.” Colossians 1:19-20, ESV

Today, like every Thursday, was our day to go and visit the
hospital.  We take several of the SEEK
staff and split into different groups to visit the different wards in the
hospital.  Often, we have one group that
picks up trash around the hospital yard (after all, we are partnered with an
environmental group, and you would be amazed at the amount of trash that
accumulates in a week’s time; plus, the patients notice, and our African
brothers often overhear them musing that we, the Mzungus, should be their
doctors because we see the dirty conditions that they wait in and do something
about it while no one at the hospital makes any effort to clean-up the tent and
surrounding yard in which they wait for their treatment).  Most often though, we go to visit with the
patients, encourage them, and pray with them. 
I have only been to the AIDS ward in the hospital (probably because the
girls on the team jump at the opportunity to go and visit the maternity and
children’s wards!), but I honestly think that I would choose to be there even
if I was given first choice.  I have
actually been surprised at the fact that we have not done any ministry
involving HIV/AIDS while we have been in Africa, but I enjoy the opportunity to
visit the hospital and see the patients. 
Often, we greet all of the patients and then share an encouraging word
with them all before praying with those patients who so desire individually.  It is sometimes difficult to go into such a
place, because HIV/AIDS is still a taboo topic in East Africa, even though
discussion of the virus and disease has become more prevalent in recent
years.  Still, we know why they are
there, and they know that we know, so we must recognize that they often come
from a place of shame and we need to be sensitive to that emotion.   For many of them, they start every day (or
at least several days) of the week getting up early, traveling to the hospital,
and waiting in line to receive their drugs/treatment for HIV/AIDS.  These are the people we go and visit.

We usually visit the hospital in the mornings, but today we
visited in the mid-afternoon.  By that
time, all of the patients had received their treatment for the day.  The only people remaining were two women,
sitting outside with one child each.  So,
we went and sat down and began to talk to them. 
It is through our conversation with Eunice, one of the women, that I was
greatly encouraged, and I wanted to share the story with you.  Eunice is HIV positive.  She has three children, only the youngest of
whom, at the age of three, is also HIV positive.  She, unlike many around the world in her
condition, is incredibly open and willing to discuss the disease from which she
suffers.  So, for over an hour, we sat
with Eunice and discussed many aspects of HIV/AIDS.  Eunice is evidence that recent efforts by
both Westerners and African governments to take action against HIV/AIDS are
producing fruit, both in providing treatment and education.  A year ago, when Eunice began treatment, she
was in incredibly poor condition and has improved immensely.  She is in great spirits and spoke of how she
has moved beyond her status and continued to live life.  But even more that that, Eunice understands
her role as an HIV positive individual. 
Through the education she has received in many different forms after
becoming aware of her status, Eunice has decided that she must share that
information with those around her.  She
understands that the most important thing is for an individual to be tested so
that they know where they stand; then, people can be instructed in how to live
safe and healthy lives dependent upon their status.  She has thus made it her mission to educate
her neighbors on the importance of getting tested and knowing their HIV status
so that they can live the healthiest lives possible either by seeking treatment
(which is currently free to Kenyan citizens) or by avoiding contracting the
disease.  To say that I was encouraged by
this woman and her efforts to improve the lives of her neighbors is a gross understatement.

During my visit with Eunice, who by the way is a Christian,
I was overwhelmed with the joy that comes from being able to encourage a
brother (or in this case, sister) in Christ. 
A majority of Christians today suffer from a perspective that is called
“dualism”.  Most Christians do not even
realize that they hold this perspective, but it certainly is not biblical.  Dualism states that there is a distinction
between the natural and supernatural, the holy and the worldly.  The application of dualism that I am
referring to deals very specifically with our callings here on earth.  Most people view a calling from God, at least
as it pertains to a profession, as only applying to those who work full-time
(or even part-time) in the ministry. 
They do not recognize, or at least as readily accept, that someone may
very well have a holy, God-given calling as a doctor, lawyer, politician, or
teacher.  And though when stated as
blatantly as I have put it, most people recognize the fallacy of this
perspective of dualism, when we look at the way we think about and treat, on a
daily basis, the different professions, I think we will all realize that we
treat positions in full-time ministry as more sacred than those in secular
fields.  I say all of this to end where I
began, with Colossians 1:19-20.  Here, we
are told that Christ came to reconcile all things to himself, and I truly
believe that means ALL things.  I also
believe that while Christ did come to save that which was lost, he came for
more than that: to bring this reconciliation to all of creation.  This means that Christ came to bring his
Kingdom in all things here on earth, and that he is working to restore our
relationships with himself, ourselves, others, and the rest of creation
(animals, the environment, and the rest of “the fullness therein”) as well as
to restore our economic, political, social, and religious systems.  If we take this perspective, then working to
do anything that brings restoration or reconciliation to any of these things I
have just mentioned is fulfilling a holy and sacred calling from God, and it is
rightly viewed and appreciated as such. 
So, it was wonderful to encourage Eunice in her pursuit to bring
education of HIV/AIDS to her neighbors that she is doing the will of God, working
to bring His kingdom, and pleasing her Father and Savior with her actions!  And while I truly believe that God can and
does miraculously heal individuals of illnesses like HIV/AIDS (as I have faith
and have heard testimony of here in Africa), I believe that God has purposed
for some not to be healed in this way or at all so that they may work to
glorify God through it all, just like Eunice, and bring His kingdom here and
now, to the least of these.